CHAPTER TEN
a heist

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JUNIPER BLACK WOULD NEVER ADMIT SHE WAS NERVOUS. Not because she had trouble expressing her feelings, but because she didn't want people to worry about her.

Currently, she was sitting on the floor in Andromeda's bedroom and sat still as the older witch braided her hair. Nymphadora sat on the floor opposite from her and was revising all of the curses and hexes she could possibly need.

"Last but not least," Nymphadora said, ending their two hour long revision. "Try not to die."

June grinned. "I'll try not to."

"Good, because my child needs his or hers godmother."

June's mouth popped open before she grinned broadly. "Really?"

Nymphadora leaned forward and grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "There is no one I'd trust more with my child—except for you, Mum."

They laughed and Andromeda finished off the braids. When June looked in the mirror, she saw that Andromeda had made two boxer braids—ideal for the heist.

"Thank you," June said, giving the older woman a tight hug. "I'll be back soon."

"Be careful," Andromeda said, hugging her tightly back.

"I will, I promise."

After saying goodbye, June made her way down the stairs and saw Remus drilling the boys with "be careful", "don't let her do impulsive things" and also a "don't die".

Juniper grabbed her black coat and clasped it around her shoulders. The four of them were all clad in black, wanting to blend in with the night.

"Ready?" June asked the boys.

They nodded.

"Ready?" June asked Kreacher, looking down.

"Yes, Mistress Juniper. Kreacher will come and get you when he is called!"

June smiled. "Thank you, Kreacher."

The four of them left the beach house and headed towards the beach. There, they Apparated into a dark alley in Hogsmeade. June's feet touched road. She saw the achingly familiar Hogsmeade High Street: dark shop fronts, and the outline of black mountains beyond the village, and the curve in the road ahead that led off towards Hogwarts, and light spilling from the windows of the Three Broomsticks.

After doing a short head-count, June led the way towards the Hog's Head Inn. Instead of taking the front door, she moved towards the back—she had discussed this with Aberforth when they had come together to talk about the plan and he, grudgingly, agreed to the plan. Then, she firmly knocked three times on the door.

The door opened and the four of them were faced a tall, older wizard with a great deal of long, stringy grey hair and beard. June's eyes met the brilliant, soul-piercing shade of blue eyes that were hidden behind the dirty lenses of his spectacles.

"Come in," he whispered. "Quick!"

They rushed into the house and Aberforth quickly shut the door behind them. He closed the blinds and turned to look at the four of them.

He grunted but did not say anything. June knew he did not like their presence.

"This way," he said, leading them to the sitting room. June's eyes immediately caught the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore, a young blond girl who was gazing at them with a kind of vacant sweetness.

"Go through there and you will get into Hogwarts," Aberforth grunted, turning away. He did not seem very happy to help them.

The portrait swung open, revealing a dark hallway. June looked at Aberforth's back. "Thank you," she said.

Charlie took the lead and June followed him, closely followed by the twins. Once the portrait closed behind them, they were immersed in darkness.

"Lumos," four voices whispered, even though there would be no one around them for at least a mile.

There were smooth stone steps on the other side: it looked as though the passageway had been there for years. Brass lamps hung from the walls and the earthy floor was worn and smooth; as they walked, their shadows rippled, fanlike, across the wall.

No one spoke as they made their way deeper into the tunnel. At last they turned a corner and there ahead of them was the end of the passage. Another short flight of steps led to a door just like the one hidden behind Ariana's portrait. Charlie pushed it open and stuck his head out.

Raised voices were heard and when June pushed her way past Charlie, she saw both Neville and Mabel standing in the room of Requirement, staring at the four of them in surprise.

"June, what are you doing here?" Mabel questioned.

"We're on a heist," June said. "But never mind that. What are you doing here?"

"Hiding from the Carrows," Neville said, and it wasn't until now that June really looked at the boy. Her lips parted when she saw the state he was in. He had a particulary deep gash in his cheek. And had one black eye — though the other one looked as if it has recently been one as well.

"Did the Carrows do this to you?" June questioned, her voice dangerously low.

"They love the punish students," Neville replied dryly. "They love it even more when students punish other students."

Before June could explode in rage, Charlie did first.

"They did what?"

June had never seen him this angry before. His blue eyes were like fire as he looked over the Longbottom siblings, who shuffled closer to each other.

"I will kill them," he vowed, making his way towards the doors that led to the rest of the castle.

June ran after him and grabbed his arm. "Charlie," she softly said, trying to calm him down.

When he refused to look at her. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ginny is okay, Charlie. She's okay."

"They could've killed her," Charlie whispered, his voice edged with fear, as he finally hugged her back. "She could've been dead."

"They would never kill her," Neville stated. "She's a Pureblood. Besides, she's gone home now and I don't think she'll be coming back."

The silence of Fred and George seemed to confirm his statement and Mabel teared up.

"Good," she said, blinking the tears away. "This is no place for her."

"This is no place for any of you," Charlie replied, breaking off the hug, but still holding June's hand. "We'll figure out something to get you guys out of here."

"And go where?" Neville questioned. "Mabel is not seventeen yet and I am not leaving her behind."

"We'll figure something out," Charlie said.

"You can't hide an entire school," Neville gently told him. "The best we can do is fight back and hope we win. That's why you're here, right? June mentioned something about a heist?" He glanced at her. "Is it about Harry? Have you seen him?"

"It's why we're here, yes," June said. "But I haven't seen Harry since the wedding."

Neville and Mabel exchanged a worried glance. Then they turned back to face the four of them. "What's the plan?"

"Oh no," June said, shaking her head. "We have a plan, but I does not involve you."

"Come on, June, we want to help," Mabel pleaded.

"We could use them as a distraction," Fred pointed out.

"What if they get caught, though," George said, looking at Neville again. "We do not want to harm them even more than they already are."

"We can handle it," Mabel protested fiercely. "You know, we might even start a revolution."

"I do not like this," June said, crossing her arms. "We should stick to the plan."

"Please, we promise to only cause a distraction and go straight back to the common room," Mabel pleaded. "Let us help you."

June gazed at the others. "What do you think?"

Charlie looked grim. "We might need a distraction."

June sighed before staring at the Longbottom siblings. "Straight to the common room, you hear me?"

Both Neville and Mabel grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

     JUNIPER DID NOT LIKE IT ONE BIT. The hallways were quiet, but all of them walked with their wands raised high. Time had passed since they left the Room of Requirement and June knew that whatever the Longbottom siblings would come up with, would happen soon.

The sound of something being blown up was heard and the four of them started running when footsteps were heard. George pushed them in a closet and the door closed just in time when the Carrows ran past, muttering curses under their breath.

When the coast was clear, they reappeared back in the hallway and made their way towards Dumbledore's office.

It was weird, June noticed, as they hid behind a staircase to avoid being caught, that she still referred to the Headmaster's office as if Dumbledore was still alive.

But he wasn't.

Pushing the though to the back of her mind, June got up and they entered the hallway that lead to the Gargoyle standing guard at the entrance of the office.

"What do we do now?" Fred asked as he, George and Charlie stood in front of the Gargoyle. "Does anyone know the password?"

June pushed past the brothers and faced the Gargoyle. Their eyes met and stared at them long enough until the statue started moving.

Deciding not to question it, the boys followed her onto the staircase. Once they stood in front of the door, June raised her hand to push it open. However, before touching the wood, the door swung open, revealing Severus standing behind his desk, his back towards them.

"What now, Alecto?"

"I'm afraid Alecto is a bit preoccupied at the moment."

June could see him tense up when she spoke those words. Slowly, he turned around and caught her eye. For a couple of moments, there was a silence and June tried to look for an explanation in his dark eyes. Why had he betrayed them? Why had he betrayed her?

"It was foolish of you to come here," he eventually said, in the monotone voice she knew all too well. "Why did you?"

June's hazel eyes glided to the sword that was hanging on the wall. "You have something we want."

A flash of surprise appeared in Severus' eyes, but it was gone by the time June looked back at him.

"Why do you need the sword?"

"You know why."

Severus narrowed his eyes as he stared at June. "I cannot simply give it to you."

"I wasn't counting on it."

Everything happened in a daze. Juniper fired off a curse at him, closely followed by another from Charlie. The twins headed for the sword.

Severus seemed caught off guard when they attacked, but he quickly composed himself and fired back — although June noticed he did not use any lethal curses.

Her practices with him last year came in handy. She gave the twins enough time to let them grab the sword and in a spare moment, she exclaimed, "Kreacher!"

The House-Elf appeared, grabbed the twins who had the sword and Disapparated. Leaving June behind with Charlie and Severus.

June stood next to Charlie as both of them had their wands raised at Severus.

"I have one question," June said quietly, knowing that Kreacher could be back any moment now. "Why?"

Severus did not reply. His eyes remained unreadable as he looked at her. June took a couple of steps forward.

"Why?" she said again, louder this time. "I need to know. I need to know who to blame for Liam's death."

A crack appeared in his expression. For a moment, he appeared to seem truly sorry. Then it was gone.

"Talk to me!" June shouted, not caring about her wand as she pushed the older wizard. "You owe me at least that!"

Charlie moved forward. "June —"

Severus did not move. He simply looked at her.

"You!" she said, pointing at the older wizard and ignoring her boyfriend. "I trusted you. You were family." Her lower lip trembled. "But he's dead now and I could never forgive you for that."

A crack behind her indicated that Kreacher had reappeared, but June did not move. She was staring at Severus, eyes lit with anger and grief.

"Come on, June," Charlie said softly, though his blue eyes were still on Severus. "Let's go home."

A small hand took hers and when June looked down, she saw Kreacher looking up at her, his grey eyes filled with pity.

"Come now, Mistress, let Kreacher take you home."

Charlie took Kreacher's other hand and June closed her eyes, not wanting to see Severus any longer.

"Take us home, Kreacher."

June felt the familiar tug and the last thing she heard was a soft voice.

"I'm sorry, June."

☆ ☆ ☆

Published 06.05.2024

I'm sorry about the long wait, truly. To everyone who's still sticking with me: thank you so much! <3

I love Neville and Mabel together. They're sibling goals. I might write a book about them when I finish this book. Anyone up for that?

I hope you are doing great & do tell me what you think of it!